Two major developments this week point out the rapidly
evolving market in telemedicine both between medical centers and out to
consumers.
For the first time, the
American Heart and Stroke Association issued new guidelines for early stroke
treatment endorsing the use of telemedicine.
The guidelines support the development of regional
networks of stroke centers, acute stroke-ready hospitals and community
hospitals. The guidelines are published in the American
Heart Association’s journal Stroke. This is an
important and timely development and another sign that leading disease and
patient groups are taking up the call for more widespread use of
telemedicine. Legislation sponsored by
Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) calls for Medicare reimbursement of telestroke
services.
Also for the first time a major U.S. insurer is paying for online
visits with a physician. Wellpoint, a
major private insurer in the U.S. is starting to pay physicians for video visits with patients
in or outside their practices. The
company operates through a number of subsidiaries throughout the United States and
covers over 60 million individuals. The
program starts out in California and Ohio early this year and will expand to
other states later. Covered patients can go to a web site to view doctors’
biographies and credentials and pay co-fees and submit claims based on their
plans. The site is located at www.livehealthonline.com.
